Nicks deal shows how far he has fallen

In 2009, Jeremy Maclin and Hakeem Nicks were drafted 10 spots apart in round one, with Maclin going 19th to the Eagles and Nicks going 29th to the Giants.

Both completed their rookie contracts in 2013. Both signed one-year deals for 2014. Maclin stays in Philly; Nicks heads to Indy.

Nicks, per multiple reports, signed a contract with a base value of $3.5 million with up to $2 million more in incentives. Maclin’s deal has a base value of $5.5 million ($3.5 million guaranteed), with a maximum value of $6 million.

And Maclin tore an ACL in training camp.

It’s a stunning contrast. Maclin suffered an injury that Nicks surely feared he’d sustain in his contract year (remember how he stayed away from offseason workouts?), and Maclin still had a better contract year than Nicks, who started 15 games.

This year, Nicks and Maclin each have a clear incentive to have strong contract years. But Nicks had a strong incentive last year, too. Unlike Maclin, Nicks was healthy enough to capitalize.

If I were starting a team, I’d rather have Foles or Luck over RG3. The guy is made of glass and it’s just a matter of time before he takes another hit and tears his ACL again. Plus, both Philly and Indy have better supporting casts than they have in DC. I’m not a fan of any of these teams, I’m just looking at each team’s situation objectively.

atodaso says:Mar 15, 2014 12:13 AM

Burgundy and gold? Never heard of em. They play football?

tmdill18 says:Mar 15, 2014 12:35 AM

Really – $5.5m vs $6m is ” a stunning contrast”? That is hardly a stunning contrast.

He is getting less money because he gives less effort. Not shedding a tear for a dude pulling in 3 to 6 MILLION. #OhPoorGuy

doe22us says:Mar 15, 2014 1:36 AM

A couple of things should be noted, I am sure Maclin would have balled out had he not been injured, Nick’s was really good at a certain point, but not sure if injuries or self preservation made him tank it the past two years. Anyhow, strong miscalculation and quite dumb if you ask me.

Unrelated had Clowney balled out for SC this school year, no question he would have been No 1. Now GM’s are questioning his commitment. Some of these guys are just not smart.

Redskins fans are amazing. So much bravado based on so much crap. Even if Foles takes a step back the Eagles have one major advantage…. Not having Daniel Snyder as an owner. When you compete against Snyder and Jerry Jones in your division you are destined for good things.

Your nuts, Nicks should be thrilled that he gets a chance to prove himself And gets paid $3.5mil And is a free agent next year And in a year with a bumper crop of WR’s in the upcoming draft. Now with Luck throwing the ball to him as opposed to Eli throwing the ball over his head, Nicks is in such a good spot.

Idf by interception machine you mean not throwing them then yes… He threw the fewest regular season ints out of most of the league. You can’t count the playoffs… Since the “burgundy and gold” didn’t even make it there.

I don’t know if $5.5m vs $6m is that stark of a contrast, assuming Nicks reaches his incentives, which I think he will because the Colts don’t have the same offense as Philadelphia, and Hakeem could very well be a solid weapon for Andrew Luck.

dbones750 says:Mar 15, 2014 8:48 AM

Good luck Hakeem. Hope he stays healthy and gets back to form

wsnygiantfan says:Mar 15, 2014 8:50 AM

I like Nicks, but there is no denying he kind of quit last year, didn’t really seem to be trying. I don’t understand how he could do that in a contract year. I hope he has a good year, at least the Colts are a better team than the Raiders, poor Mr. Tuck.

You need to remember that Hakeem Nicks went to the University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill..Athletes there get admitted on special exemptions because they didn’t qualify academically…What does that mean? It means they didn’t meet the academic standards set forth that all other students meet to be accepted in to the university…They probably rarely go to class…probably have tutors do their work for them…They sit around and fart, tell jokes, have no respect for authority, no integrity, show no responsibility for their actions, zero character, undisciplined, behavior that is totally unacceptable and most of all just plain LAZY….This leads to what you see on the field…Some talent but no measurable activity going on above the shoulder pads…Just look at Julius Peppers…He attended UNC….Notice I said ATTENDED…I heard he had 4 F’s and 2 D’s? Yet he was able to compete in both football and basketball at UNC…Now why was that? Why did the university let him play with those grades? Why did the NCAA not step in?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ That is why…Its all about the money now…Is this the message we want to send to our children? That if you have you talent to play sports to not worry we will pass you along…You need not worry about academics..You need not become educated…You need not be academically challenged as well as athletically challenged? When are we as people going to change this mindset? When are going to ask more of our universities, of the NCAA…With the popularity of the NFL and the exposure the league gets..You would think they would step in and say enough of this…The NFL is a great position to change the mindset…They can demand for the players coming into the league to be educated to the same standard that all of the students at the universities must adhere to…It would make for an even better NFL…Take some of the trash talking and violence out of some of these players and put in an educated mind where they would show respect and honor…The young fans then would see what it takes to play in the NFL and then start to implement into their lives what in necessary to achieve their dreams of playing professional sports…What a great world it would then be..An education goes a long way….